DECEMBER. 581 



The Fair being over, our company immediately started upon a railroad 

 trip over the prairies. From Chicago we proceeded to Galena, over the 

 Chicago and Galena Union Railroad. Here we made but a short stay, and 

 returned over the same route until we intersected the Illinois Central Road, 

 which runs through the State almost in a direct line to Cairo. This route 

 we took as far as Sandoval, 300 miles, where we intersected the Ohio and 

 Mississippi Road to St. Louis. Passing a rather uncomfortable night here, 

 for this station house is an exception to the generally neat and convenient 

 ones on other parts of this well-managed road, we took the morning train 

 for St. Louis, which we reached in a few hours. From this city we went 

 up the Mississippi to Alton, thence over the Chicago and Mississippi Road, 

 via Lake Station on the Michigan Central Railroad, to Detroit, and, by the 

 same route as we went, to Boston. Such is a brief outline of our tour. 



We have neither time nor space, in our closing number, to speak of the 

 Boil and climate, or give any adequate description of the scenery of the 

 vast prairies over which we passed. It was one of the most delightful 

 tours we ever made, and the remembrance of it we hope to record in our 

 next volume. All who have not seen this rich region of our country, 

 know not how much they have lost. 



Singing Birds. — The article in the August number, (1854,) on singing 

 birds, is one of interest ; but there are some facts, respecting the notes of 

 the purple-breasted grosbeak, which might be supplied, not contained in 

 that article. This bird visits this vicinity every summer, in considerable 

 numbers, and rears its young about our river and marshes. The male sings 

 at night with great vivacity and hilarity, while the female is engaged in 

 her duties with the young. I have heard them at all hours of the night. 

 If it were a native of Great Britain, it would have long ere this become a 

 national favorite. — Yours, J. P. Kirtland, Cleaveland, O., Dec, 1854. 



The Season in Cleaveland, Ohio. — Up to this period, frost has not 

 been sufficiently severe to injure geraniums standing unprotected in my 

 garden. Tea roses, verbenas, &c., are still in full bloom. A slight frost 

 on the 23d of October impaired the dahlias. The lalce is steadily giving 

 off its caloric, accumulated during summer, which serves to keep off the 

 autumnal frosts, that are severe in the interior. As a consequence, the 

 wood of the peach tree is now well matured, and the leaves have not yet 

 fallen, though ripe and mature. — Yours, J. P. Kirtland, JK'ov. 14, 1855. 



Stnssitcjjusctts Ijorticultural Sctittj. 



Annual Exhibition. — In our last report we had not room for the pre- 

 miums for dahlias, which were awarded on the second day of the exhibition. 

 They were as follows : — 



